Local cardiologist released early from prison for illegally distributing painkillers

A local cardiologist who was sent to prison for illegally distributing prescription painkillers to people who were not his patients was granted an early release today.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda granted a motion for judicial release by Barry DeRan, 55, of Lambertville, who has served just three months of his 28-month prison sentence.

As conditions of his release, Judge Zmuda placed DeRan on community control for four years and ordered that he perform 200 hours of community service by volunteering either at the Cordelia Martin Health Center or the St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Hope for Families Program.

DeRan, who surrendered his medical license, pleaded guilty July 23 to four counts each of trafficking in drugs and attempted trafficking in drugs. He admitted he improperly prescribed the pain medication OxyContin on multiple occasions in 2009 to people he knows or people referred to him but who were not his patients.

His attorney, Rick Kerger, wrote in a motion to the court that DeRan may no longer practice medicine “but he will have the opportunity to become gainfully employed and be a benefit to the community at large, both through his knowledge and training, as well as the lessons gleaned from his experience with the judicial system.”

In a separate case, DeRan pleaded guilty Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy and eight counts of aiding and abetting and making false statements in the acquisition of firearms. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10 on those charges.

Judge Zmuda ordered him to complete the 200 hours of community service prior to Feb. 10.

“It’s a lot of hours in a short period of time, but it will keep you busy,” the judge said.